The School Leadership Show

This is the School Leadership Show. Learn everything you need to know to thrive in school administration. The School leadership show is where ordinary school administrators become extraordinary leaders. The only podcast dedicated to helping practicing and aspiring school leaders realize their potential, advance their careers, and achieve work-life balance, The School Leadership Show brings together the greatest minds from inside and outside of education to deliver you the insights and tools you need to succeed in school leadership.

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In this episode I interview Doug Stone, one of the authors (along with Sheila Heen) of the book Thanks for the Feedback and Jenn David-Lang who summarized the book for her Main Idea publication. We have a spirited discussion about the different types of feedback, why giving and receiving feedback can be so difficult, and how to get better at both sides of the process. You can reach Jenn at her website for The Main Idea (www.themainidea.net) or on Twitter @The_Mainidea. I’m a happy subscriber of The Main Idea, and a big fan of Jenn’s work. Doug can be reached through his consulting group’s website at triadconsultinggroup.com/. After you read Thanks for the Feedback, check out one of Doug’s other books: Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most.

As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

If you’d like help improving your productivity and leadership skills, please contact me at mike@schoolleadershipshow.com or on Twitter @doughtymike.

In this episode I interview Andrew Sykes of Habits at Work (www.habitsatwork.com and www.bratlab.com). His company helps organizations of all kinds tap their greatest source of competitive advantage - their people. Andrew and I talk about the pivotal habits that are essential for helping companies (and schools) foster the health, happiness, and security of all their employees. Time flew during this interview. Andrew had so many great things to share about how to develop habits to improve all aspects of your professional and personal life that we may need to do a part two. You can reach Andrew by email at andrew@habitsatwork.com and on Twitter @sykesandrew. Enjoy this interview with Andrew Sykes.

As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

If you’d like help improving your productivity and leadership skills, please contact me at mike@schoolleadershipshow.com or on twitter @doughtymike.

If you’re a school administrator, you probably spend more time than you would like in meetings of all kinds. In this episode Jeff Cimmerer and I talk about all things meetings - things that bug us, strategies to improve their effectiveness, and ways to avoid scheduling them in the first place. It is possible to reduce the number of meetings you attend and make the ones you have to have more effective. We rant and rave a little bit, but end up providing some pretty solid tips and advice.

You can reach Jeff to complain about this episode at drjpc21@gmail.com or on Twitter @jeffcimmerer. If you’d like help improving your leadership skills and knowledge, please contact me at mike@schoolleadershipshow.com or on twitter @doughtymike.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

Ever since I read her book Every Patient Tells a Story, I have wanted to talk to Dr. Lisa Sanders. Dr. Sanders is a physician, author, and teacher of physicians. Her speciality is what works and what doesn’t work in the process of diagnosis. We talk about everything from how the process of diagnosis is like a detective story and how the cognitive biases inherent in the process apply to decision making for school leaders. We get into health, wellness, work-life balance (spinning multiple plates), diet, exercise, burnout, and how to get comfortable with uncertainty. We even talk about Dr. Sanders’s favorite and least favorite TV shows about doctors. Enjoy this interview with Dr. Lisa Sanders.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

If you’re like me, you probably get a lot of email, and it’s one of the worst parts of your job. If email is the best part of your job, then you need a new job. In this episode Dr. Jeff Cimmerer and I talk about all things email - its history, how people use and misuse it, strategies for managing it, and much more. While email isn’t one of those things that’s likely to make your career, using email inappropriately could send you into obscurity, or worse, unemployment. You can get control of your email in a positive way and spend more time with your friends and family. It’s time to stop letting this “tool” control your life. For more on mastering email consider listening to my interview with Merlin Mann.

In this episode I interview author, coach, triathlete, and competitive mountain bike rider Selene Yeager. Bicycling Magazine calls her the Fit Chick, and she was a lot of fun to talk to. Selene is a regular contributor to many different fitness magazines on training, nutrition, and injury prevention. I became a big fan when Selene’s article Sitting is the New Smoking appeared as the cover story in Runners Worldin 2013. We talk about how school administrators can combat the health effects of sitting in too many meetings. We also get into strategies for getting yourself to exercise like, “because it feels good, and I enjoy it.” Selene shares several of her personal productivity tips and routines as well as the projects she’s currently pursuing. We may need to do a part two.

To learn more about Selene and her work follow her on twitter @FitChick3 and visit her website: seleneyeager.com/. Enjoy this interview with Selene Yeager.

In this episode I sit down with friend and colleague, Dr. Jeff Cimmerer. Jeff is the Chief Information Officer for a large suburban school district in Upstate New York. He and I have a lively discussion about the horrible presentations we have seen during our time as school leaders. We share a bunch of dos and don’ts about planning, designing, and delivering effective presentations. Don’t be one of those school administrators that we talk about for giving bad presentations. You can get better.

For more on this topic consider listening to my interviews with Dr. Stephanie Evergreen and Dr. Nick Morgan.

In this episode I interview political reporter, television pundit, and author Eleanor Clift. Eleanor is a regular contributor to The Daily Beast and has a long history covering national politics - every presidential election since 1976. Many people know Eleanor as a perennial panelist on the syndicated talk show, “The McLaughlin Group.” I started watching “The Group” as a high school student in the early 90s, and I’ve been a faithful viewer ever since. Eleanor and I talk about writing, communication with new media, what makes a good leader, and the challenges facing K-12 education. She even predicts the candidates and the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

In this episode I interview writer, speaker, and broadcaster Merlin Mann. We talk about managing all of the inputs that come your way. We go into great depth on managing email and working toward what Merlin has coined “inbox zero.” We also talk about strategies for managing your time and attention in order to set yourself up for doing your best, most creative work. To learn more about Merlin and his work visit http://www.merlinmann.com/. Enjoy this interview with Merlin Mann.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

In this episode I interview two fantastic attorneys whom I’ve known for several years about special education law. Joyce Berkowitz has a practice representing parents, and Dave Oakes works for the Harris Beach Law Firm and represents school districts. Our lively discussion centers on what school administrators need to know about special education law. We get into mistakes to avoid, how to stay current on changes to special education law - if that’s even possible, when to call the attorneys, what to expect when the attorneys show up, and where the focus of all this work rightfully should be - on children. Joyce and Dave also share insights about their own personal productivity and setting priorities.

To reach Joyce you can Google her name (Joyce B. Berkowitz) or call her at (585) 421-9094. You can learn more about Dave and his work at Harris Beach’s website (www.harrisbeach.com). Enjoy this interview with Joyce Berkowitz and Dave Oakes.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

We all know how to implement, right? It’s not as easy as it sounds. In this episode I interview Caryn Ward. Caryn works with the National Implementation Research Network or NIRN (http://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/). She is an expert on implementation science the research that supports it. We talk about the Five Implementation Frameworks, how they apply to education, and what they mean for school leaders, and pitfalls to avoid. Additional information and tools that Caryn mentions in the podcast can be found at The Active Implementation Hub (http://implementation.fpg.unc.edu/).

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

In this episode I interview Professional Office Organizing Consultant Kacy Paide. We talk about how much more productive and focused you can be when your environment is organized. It sounds so simple. Why aren’t more of us there already? We get into practical tips, where to start, and mistakes to avoid. Kacy mentioned the following resources during the interview:

In this episode I interview Jenn David-Lang. Jenn produces The Main Idea (http://www.themainidea.net/), a monthly summary of a current education book. Jenn has over 30,000 subscribers and has an incredible perspective on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed in education. We talk about the importance of building relationships, mistakes for administrators to avoid, tips for personal productivity, and much more. Enjoy this interview with Jenn David-Lang.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

In this episode I go another round with educator and author Kim Marshall. This time we talk in detail about teacher observation and evaluation and ways to make the process meaningful and doable for everyone involved. Kim shares several resources including a tool that districts might consider using to help streamline the paperwork involved with the observation process (https://www.t-eval.com/). You can access much of Kim Marshall’s work for free at www.marshallmemo.com. His weekly Marshall Memo helps countless educators stay current on what’s happening in K-12 education. Enjoy this interview with Kim Marshall.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

In this episode I interview Justin Murphy. Justin is a seasoned journalist who reports on education both in print and online. We talk about how school administrators can build positive relationships with the media, mistakes to avoid when working with the press, and how to figure out the real story when you have conflicting information from different sources. We also get into a couple of productivity hacks that Justin has found useful as a reporter as well as his approach to staying caught up on email. Enjoy this interview with Justin Murphy.

In this episode I interview Dan White. Dan has been a school counselor, a high school principal, and a school district superintendent. He is currently the superintendent of a large educational service agency. We talk mainly about decision making, specifically how not to let another person’s crisis become your crisis, using the time you have to make decisions, not hitting flies with sledgehammers, making thoughtful course corrections, and much more. This is likely the first of several episodes with Dan related to the nuts and bolts of leadership in general and school leadership specifically. The book Dan mentions towards the end of the episode is Time Present, Time Past by Bill Bradley. Enjoy this interview with Dan White.

In this episode I interview Dr. Stephanie Evergreen, author of the book Presenting Data Effectively. She has worked across all sectors, including education, teaching and coaching people about how to communicate using data. We talk about what great presenters do, tips on creating good slides, how your visuals should complement your personality when you present, and more. We barely scratch the surface in this interview, and you are going to want to hear more from Stephanie. Her website is http://stephanieevergreen.com/, and you can go there to learn more about her book, read her blog, and listen to her podcasts. Enjoy this interview with Dr. Stephanie Evergreen.

In this episode I interview productivity expert Erik Fisher. His podcast, Beyond the To-Do List, is essential listening for anyone looking to increase their personal productivity and improve their work-life balance. We talk about priorities, rituals, multi-tasking, getting control of your email, tools to help you stay focused, and much more. You can learn more about Erik, follow him on Twitter @ErikJFisher, and download his podcast at http://beyondthetodolist.com/. Enjoy this interview with Erik Fisher.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

In this episode I interview Jill Pancoast from The Breakthrough Coach. The training that she describes in the interview has helped tens of thousands of school administrators all over the world get out of their offices and spend more time in classrooms where the real work of school is going on. We talk about the characteristics of effective school administrators, developing a results orientation, minimizing distractions in your work environment, and much more. You can learn more about Jill and The Breakthrough Coach at http://www.the-breakthrough-coach.com/.

In this episode I interview productivity author and podcaster Jeff Sanders. His wildly popular podcast The 5 AM Miracle changed my life, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation with Jeff. We talk about the idea of intentionality when it comes to scheduling your day, the importance of developing anchor habits, what school administrators can do to be more efficient and effective, tips to increase energy and improve health and wellness, all kinds of resources on all of these topics and more. More information about Jeff and his work can be found at his website www.jeffsanders.com.

In this episode I interview author and communications coach Dr. Nick Morgan. Dr. Morgan is the author of many books about public speaking and communications. We talk about what makes great communicators stand out, rookie mistakes to avoid, how to communicate effectively with social media, what to do when you have to talk to a reporter, how to give clear concise “say a few words” speeches, and much more. To learn more about Dr. Morgan and his work visit his website www.publicwords.com. I hope you enjoy this interview with Dr. Nick Morgan.

In this episode I interview Dr. Charlie Shaw, a chiropractor and wellness expert, about what school administrators can do to increase their energy and improve their overall health. Charlie and I get into the impact of movement, hydration, and nutrition on productivity and wellness. While you may have heard some of the advice before, it’s affirming to have it come from an expert in the field. We also talk about several specific personal productivity strategies that Charlie has found effective for maintaining balance while managing a busy chiropractic practice. Charlie mentioned a few links in the interview that I have included below:

In this episode I interview educator and author Kim Marshall. You can access much of Kim Marshall’s work for free at www.marshallmemo.com. His weekly Marshall Memo helps countless educators stay current on what’s happening in K-12 education. We talk about how he creates and publishes the Marshall Memo, where education is headed in the next decade, best practices in teacher evaluation, how to stay current in the field, good habits that successful administrators have, and rookie mistakes to avoid. Enjoy this interview with Kim Marshall.

Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in itunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues.

In this interview with veteran technology director and CIO Dr. Jeff Cimmerer, we explore the past, present, and future of instructional technology.We also get into the traps and mistakes that school leaders can avoid to maximize the impact of technology and data in improving teaching and learning. Contact Dr. Jeff Cimmerer at drjpc21@gmail.com

In this interview with educator and author Cheryl Dobbertin, we talk about how school leaders can support teaching and learning in their buildings. With public debate over standards, curriculum, and assessment at an unprecedented and fevered pitch, we get into how administrators can manage all of the competing interests while still focusing on good instruction. Enjoy this one with Cheryl Dobbertin.